COMMUNISM IN N.Z.: ACTION ADVOCATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1948, Page 2

COMMUNISM IN N.Z.: ACTION ADVOCATED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 15. Ah immediate meeting of Parliament, to pass legislation providing that persons guilty o‘f subversive activities, or owing allegiance to a foreign Power, should be ineligible for employment in any branch of the Public Services of New Zealand, or in the management of its industrial system, was advocated by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, in a speech in Wellington today.

“The matter is of such desperate urgency that we should call Parliament together and pass a law with-out-a day’s delay,” said Mr Holland. He added that he believed in democracy, and in the right of people to subscribe to any political philosophy they choose. But he did not subscribe to the idea that fifth columnists had the right to organise the overthrow of our democratic way of life. Mr Holland was speaking at a gathering held under the auspices of the National Party. The president of the party, Mr W. J. Sim, K.C., presided. The new order which people had hoped for, and fought for, during the war was still an unrealised dream, said Mr Holland. Instead of being busy with tasks of reconstruction the World was torn asunder. Talk of Another War

There was even the fear of another world conflagration, he said. To ignore the signs of the times would be less than their duty. Unfortunately, the United Nations Organisation, established to maintain peace and to promote human welfare, appeared powerless to perform its proper function and to arrest the pattern of events, which had shocked the world, in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, and other countries. Russia was out for world domination, and sought to impose her Soviet form of totalitarianism on the whole world, including the British Empire, of which New Zealand was a member.

In France, he said, Russia sought to establish her system by causing chaos and disorder in the French factories. In Italy there was the danger of civil war. Finland and Persia were under great pressure from Russia. Greece was torn asunder by a civil war promoted from outside of her borders. Palestine was facing civil war, with the United Nations unwilling,'unready, or unable to enforce its decisions. Half of China and half of Korea were under Communist control. The one bright spot was the bond of friendship and understanding between the British Empire and the mighty United States of America, plus the happy conclusion of agreements with France and the Benelux countries. New Zealand Trouble Turning to New Zealand, Mr Holland said that the same technique of Stirring up industrial strife which was being employed in other countries were being used here. At the important Mangakino hydro works where 900 workers were idle, and part of the workings was now flooded .trouble had arisen because a local secretary of the workers’ union had

been transferred elsewhere. The engineers felt they could not work with elements which had been persisting among the men, and that the control of the work was being slowly filched from the engineers in charge. The only reason why the Communists sought power, he said, was to impose the Soviet system, and to destroy the New Zealand way of life. They were using industrial unionism to achieve their ends. “Communism is a subversive organisation.” said Mr Holland. “It is anti-British. It is anti-Christian. In my opinion we should pass a law declaring such subversive activities unlawful. Until we do that, this poisonous propaganda will continue. We cannot sit quietly by and read what

is happening in other ~ countries. These things can, and will happen here, unless we take the precautions that will prevent them.” Defence of New Zealand. Mr Holland also made reference to defence matters. “In New Zealand, notwithstanding dangers that face us, we do not appear to have any defence policy,” he said. “We have allowed our defence system to fade away. Our training staffs are being reduced to very small numbers. These questions transcend all considerations of party politics. “In my opinion, we should immediately set about the task of determining an adequate defence policy, so that we in New Zealand will have done everything that lies in our power to ensure the peace of the world by equipping ourselves in readiness to defend our country.”

COMMUNISTS IN STATE POSITIONS: INQUIRY URGED

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 15. Concern at the “alarming spread of Communistic propaganda and the growth of Communism in New Zealand and its infiltration into the civil service” was expressed by the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation at the annual conference at New Plymouth. “It is rearing its ugly head in such a manner that unless we express ourselves we are failing in our duty to our country,” said one delegate. “If it is true that senior officers in the civil service are Communists, then as taxpayers we are entitled to ask that our money be better spent.” After a discussion the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That in view of the grave international situation this conference respectfully requests the Minister of Industries and Commerce to state whether it is correct that a senior officer of the Price Tribunal is an avowed Communist or subscribes to Communistic policy; further, that, in view of recent utterances of the Prime Minister, the Government be urged to ascertain immediately the number of Communists holding senior positions in the civil service.”

A copy of the resolution was telegraphed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce.

Ban Now Favoured By Australian Liberal Party

(From C. R. Mentiplay, Special Press Association Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, March 15.

A censure motion against the Commonwealth Government on the ground that it has failed, to deal with the menace seen in Communism in Australia, will be debated after Easter. The Liberal Party leader,Mr R. G. Menzies) last week declared his party in favour of the banning of Communism, demanded in the first place by the Country Party leader (Mr A. W. Fadden), so that both Opposition parties now stand together on this issue.

Formerly, Mr Menzies contrary to the wishes of some of his party’s members, maintained that to declare the Communists illegal would be merely to drive them underground. He still maintains that it is a negation of political freedom to declare any system of political thought illegal, but he adds that “Communism" is as little related to political thought, as burglary is to social philosophy.” The censure motion places several Labour members in an awkward position. The Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) is known to be against the banning of the Communists, for reasons similar to those formerly held by Mr Menzies, but this view may not be supported by a majority of the Labour Party. Some Labour members have declared themselves so strongly as anti-Communists that they will be faced with the choice of swallowing their words in the interests of their party or crossing the floor of the House. On the other hand, all parties may unite in a general assault on the Communists. Both the Queensland strikes and events beyond Australia, such as the death of Mr Jan Masaryk appear to have hardened political opinion against the Communists.